Travels and Vacations

A visit to the French Riviera would not be complete without a stop in St. Tropez. Renowned for its miles of glistening white beaches, exotic food and as a playground for the rich and famous – it is THE place to see and be seen.

A true jewel of the Riviera, St. Tropez is an animated seaside resort where the azure water and cerulean skies are backlit by brilliant sunsets of ripe apricot, ruby red and gold.

The late afternoon breeze from the Med causes the jewel-colored awnings of the sidewalk cafes to snap and wave merrily, and brings a welcome relief from the heat of the day. Here, the air is fragrant with jasmine and mimosa, and the occasional whiff of a gourmet meal being prepared makes your mouth water.

The nightlife in St. Tropez is fast, energetic and frenetic. You can always find something going on — there are numerous clubs where you can eat, drink and dance the night away.

“St. Trop” as it is known by those in the film industry, means “Saint Too Much.” It was “discovered” in 1956 when Roger Vadim’s “And God Created Women” was filmed here, launching a young Brigitte Bardot into instant super stardom. St. Tropez became a Mecca to artists, writers and, of course, movie stars in the 60s.

St. Tropez is the favored vacation site of chic Parisians and most of Europe. International stars still flock here in the spring and summer, and you never know whom you’ll run into at the open-air market in the Place des Lices, or while sipping an aperitif at one of the many outdoor cafes. In fact, people watching is a favorite pastime in the summer, when the sidewalks are crowded with tourists and sun worshippers.

At the heart of St. Tropez is the harbor. Take a walk along the pier, and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a picture postcard or a painting by Signac or Matisse. Picturesquely painted villas with red tiled roofs sit along the dock, indulgently watching over the wooden fishing boats that bob gently next to large, expensive yachts. 12th century churches, the famous parasol pines and narrow cobblestone streets among picture-perfect houses complete the feeling that it’s too beautiful to be real.

Much has been made of the very special quality of light that is only found in St. Tropez. Maybe it’s because of its unique and paradoxical location, or perhaps the spectacular, almost tropical climate has something to do with it. Whatever the reason, when you see the way the luminescent light plays across the wooden sailboats, or highlights one of the beautiful fountains, you’ll feel the stirrings of your inner artist, and long to pick up a paintbrush and palette.

St. Tropez is also known for its beaches. The most famous is the Plage de Pampelonne, with its five km of almost blinding white sand, exotic boutiques, sidewalk cafes and restaurants, including the renowned “Club 55.” At the north end you’ll find the Plage de Tahiti, which is a well-known haunt of famous celebrities. Other beaches you can visit include Bouillabaisse, Caneliers, and Salins. To the south of Plage de Pampelonne is Cap Camarat, and just beyond that – a little less accessible and therefore much less crowded – are Plage de l’Escalet and Plage de la Briande. If you go a little farther south, you’ll find a wonderful beach – Gigaro, and the town of La Croix Valmer.

In all, you’ll find over 40 beaches in the area, so it’s easy to enjoy soaking up the sun every day, if that’s your pleasure. If you prefer something a little more strenuous than lying on the beach, St. Tropez offers something for everyone in way of activities. You can find: Hiking, Biking, Golf, Tennis, Racquetball, Fitness Center, Miniature Golf, Amusement Parks, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Shopping, Restaurants (from the very expensive to the inexpensive), Cinemas, Swimming, Snorkeling/Scuba Diving, Boating, Sailing, Water-skiing, Surfing, Windsurfing, Parasailing, and Jet skiing.

When you’re finished soaking up the sun, you can move indoors, and soak up a little culture instead. There are plenty of wonderful museums, art galleries and other events scheduled throughout the year.

Some “must-sees” include:

Musee de l’Annonciade. (Place Georges Grammont, near the harbor). The museum is housed in the former chapel of the Annonciade. It was opened in 1995 and contains one of the best modern art collections in the Riviera. Many of the paintings show St. Tropez itself, but there are also paintings by artists such as Seurat and Matisse that make it worth visiting. Other artists showcased are Bonnard, Braque, Dufy, Utrillo, Derain and Maillol.

Musee Naval (Rue de la Citadelle) is a memorial to the days when St. Tropez meant more to sea captains and admirals than to the sun worshippers of today. You’ll find models of cannons and ships, old pictures of the town, and interesting little oddities. The museum is a part of the Citadelle, a structure dating back to the 1500s. (The Citadelle is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch as well!)

La Maison de Papillons (Rue Etienne Berry) Papillons means butterflies. The “House of Butterflies” is one of the most amazing places to visit in St. Tropez. Located in an antique house, it has over 4,500 different butterfly species, some of which are almost extinct.

The Open Air Market (Place des Lices) Open on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, the market is a fun way to spend a few hours. Check out the amazing variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, haggle with the street vendors and pick up a souvenir or two. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for celebrities!

Quartier de la Ponche is the old part of the city. It’s easy to get lost wandering around the narrow twisted streets and back alleys. Still, it’s worth spending the time exploring the shops and houses that are resolute reminders of the days before St. Tropez became “hip.”

When you’re exploring St. Tropez, don’t forget to look up. Nestled on top of the rocky hills, you’ll find many small medieval villages that are worth exploring, like Grimaud and Cogolin, now favored for their marinas.

No matter how long you choose to stay, you’ll find it difficult to tear yourself away from the beauty and excitement of St. Tropez. Even before you leave, you may find yourself thinking about your next trip to the jewel of the French Riviera.

The Swiss Riviera is located on the shores of Lake Leman stretching from Geneva which is 99 km to the south and Montreux to the north east. With an abundance of sailboats dotting its shores, Lake Leman is the biggest fresh water lake in Western Europe and a pearl for travelers visiting Switzerland.

Most of French-speaking Switzerland is so appealing because it barely registers on the package tour circuit. You can swap a bus full of Japanese tourists shopping for cuckoo clocks in Lucern for a hillside of blooming narcissi or a wine village with spell-binding views and a deep blue-green gleam along Lake Leman.

Make your first glimpse of the Swiss Riviera, a playground for the rich and famous, from the window of a Panoramic train as it descends the snow-capped Alps upon French-style farmhouses adorned with terraced vineyards just beside you and Lake Leman.

Lake Leman possesses such grace with its calm azure waters and graceful swans patrolling underneath the medieval Chillon Castle. However, Chillon’s history is no fairytale. During Switzerland’s witchcraft purges, dozens of women were tortured here while many others were incarcerated. Lord Bryon, who visited in 1816, wrote an epic poem about Francois Bonivard, the prisoner chained in the dungeons of Chillon.

Steep mountains and vineyards terraces mirror in the crystal clear waters of the lake, providing a feeling of complete harmony and relaxation. Discover the unique terraced vineyards of the wine growing village of Lavaux which represents the culture of the region. Why not take a stroll along exceptional landscape away from the road traffic and into ever changing colors of the over 50 vineyards alongside Lake Leman.

Montreux is one of those places that seem to hold a certain tantalizing magic. With a sought after and mild microclimate, Montreux is spectacularly located at the shores of Lake Leman with the afternoon sunshine streaming across the lake. Visitors can marvel at a wide variety of well kept tropical plants lining the scenic ten km lakeside walk.

Lake Leman’s summers are definitely Riviera-like, reaching a sweltering 95 F in mid July. Be sure to cool off at one of the many beaches and regattas in the summer months, surrounded on all sides by the Swiss and French Alps. Relatively speaking, winters can be quite mild, which explains the terraced vineyards and infamous banana and palm trees along the lakeshore.

Take a day trip on a classic Pullman rail car to the medieval village of Gruyere where you will witness cheese making demonstrations the traditional way. In the afternoon, enjoy Nestle’s Callier chocolate factory located in Broc where you can indulge in the taste of pure chocolate heaven.

In high summer, ferries ply between the lakeside villages, spending much of your time afloat on the lake. Ferries also go to such areas as Geneva bound for Yvoire and Lausanne bound for Evian (source of the famous bottled water) in France. Such cultural attractions as the Nestle food museum and farmers markets open along the shores every Saturday to shoppers.

Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Noel Coward, Shania Twain and Freddy Mercury all owned homes in Montreux and neighboring Vevey. Charlie Chaplin spent the last 25 years of his life in Vevey, with a statue of him along the lakefront. One can only bask on a terrace at sunset and marvel at the huge expanse of green land and presence of mountains beyond.

While the Swiss Riviera is in some ways passe these days, new luxurious wellness centers have sprung along its shores to entice visitors to come rest and play. Come relax at such wellness centers as the Amrita Wellness Center at Le Montreux Palace, the Givenchy Spa at Le Mirador, the Puressens Spat at Hotel Trois Couronnes in Vevey and La Reserve Hotel and Spa in Geneva. Switzerland is renewing its spa reputation and millions have been spent to create everything you could possibly need to de-stress, detox, lose weight, tone up and bring mind and body back to optimal health.

It’s quite easy to understand why once you catch a glimpse of the ambling quai des fleurs among the neighboring towns and villages you will never want to leave its beauty. You’d never tire of the ever changing panorama of lakes, alpine pinnacles, and twinkling villages. Best of all, within a half-an-hour you can be high in the mountainous Alps enjoy various winter sports.

The people of the Swiss Riviera are very International. Don’t worry if your French is a little rusty, as they are English friendly (among Switzerland’s four national languages) and are happy to answer your questions. Make the Swiss Riviera your ideal spot for your next vacation at any time of the year.

The southeast corner of France known as Provence – called the French Riviera for its maritime area between Toulon and Nice - is a romantic location with a little bit of everything to offer the traveler.

Provence stretches from Cap Nègre on the Maures ledge, to Cap Brun in the Esteral area, and from Cap Roux near Toulon to the Iles d’Or (the Golden Isles) out in the Mediterranean Sea. Inland, the area runs as far as the Argens and the Verdon River to the north.

The region of Provence is so called because it was one of the first outlying provinces established by the Romans. They called it “Provincia Romana” and it was one of the jewels of the Roman Empire. Gradually, over hundreds of years, the word Provincia changed to Provence. “Provencal” is a dialect still spoken here by many people.

Remnants of the ancient empire still abound. There is the Pont duGard aqueduct that towers 160 feet above your head and a Roman arena still used for bullfights and concerts in Avignon. Arles, with its famous Roman arena, and Frejus (a city named and built by Julius Caesar) still has traces of the port where Caesar’s navy once docked.

Everywhere you go, historical sites abound with majestic stone castles sitting regally just off the side of country roads, and you might find the remnants of a pagan temple next to an austere Catholic church with tall spires and towers that took decades to build.

The rich and famous flocks to the Riviera every year, much like the swallows to Capistrano. Walk along the city streets in the spring, or one of the many bustling open-air fruit and vegetable markets, and you might just find yourself passing a famous movie star or fashion model.

Even the names of some of the Riviera’s most famous cities bring to mind pictures of white sandy beaches, a turquoise sea, and endless days under a tropical sun — St. Tropez, Monaco, Nice, Cannes.

Do you enjoy biking and hiking? Swimming? Boating? How about taking a walking tour along narrow cobblestone streets in tiny villages that date back to mediaeval times? A romantic river cruise? Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea? You’ll find all of this and more in Provence.

And of course, there are numerous opportunities for experiencing French cooking at its best. Dining in France is almost a religious experience! When dining at someone’s home, it’s not unusual for dinner to last three to four hours. If the occasion is an especially memorable one, dinner can go until two or three in the morning!

When eating at a French restaurant, it won’t matter if you choose a four star restaurant, or a tiny sidewalk café. Your experience is sure to be a gastronomic delight for your palette. And don’t even think of rushing through your meal! Each course is presented with a certain formality and ceremony that makes dining a pleasure. And you are always given plenty of time to savor each course and never made to feel as if you must vacate your table quickly for the next diners.

The Mediterranean Sea is breathtaking, whether you’re seeing it from the air for the first time as your plane lands in Nice, or while walking along the rocky beaches at Cannes. Its colors change with its moods – turquoise, emerald, and sapphire – and the water is clear and warm for 6 months of the year. In the winter, although it’s too cold to swim (except for the most hardy of souls), the Med’s mood and color matches the steel gray clouds, and you’ll enjoy the practically deserted beaches and the bracing wind as you walk along the shore.

You have many choices for lodging in Provence. Stay at a four-star hotel, and you may find yourself sleeping on crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, in a bed once used by kings and queens. There are charming bed and breakfast cottages, where you’ll be served your meals family-style and learn the history behind the best places in the area to visit from your hostess. Or choose a former monastery, where you’ll find peace and tranquility, staying in small, quiet rooms with thick stone walls and enjoy walking through outdoor gardens with large fountains where wild rosemary and thyme grow abundantly.

The people of Provence are friendly and helpful. They won’t mind if your French is a little rusty, and will go out of their way to talk to you, and answer your questions.

Each season has its own charms. Spring, when the mimosa trees are bursting with the delicate yellow blooms, red poppies grow wild alongside the autoroute and there are fields of tulips to rival those in Holland.

Summer, when succulent fruits are abundant everywhere, the leaves of the grapevines become an endless “sea of green” when viewed from the road, and the Mediterranean sea offers a respite from the tropical heat.

Fall, when the grapevines are heavy and full with their harvest, the red, yellow and oranges leaves clothe the trees in splendid cloaks and community festivals happen almost every weekend.

Winter, when the weather is mild and sunny days are plentiful, but tourists are not.

Provence is an ideal spot for the perfect vacation at any time of year. The area is so spectacular that even visitors who are just “passing through” find it hard to say good-bye.

Switzerland is a small, landlocked country in the heart of Europe. It has a strategic location at the crossroads of Central Europe with many easily traversable passes for outdoor enthusiasts. Switzerland is divided into three major geographical areas known as the Alps, the middle land and the Jura regions, attracting a wide range of tourists each year.

Switzerland may be a neutral country but it is certainly not flavorless. The diversity of German, French, Romanish, and Italian languages has formed a robust national culture, with vast alpine landscapes presenting enough zing to reinvigorate the most jaded traveler.

Switzerland certainly has its fair share of cliches with irresistible chocolates, yodeling countrymen, humorless bankers, international bureaucracies, and a national persona of a cold and close-minded culture. Looking beyond those well known stereotypes, the Germans invented the cuckoo clock; secondly, the Swiss have won more Nobel prizes and registered more patents per capita than any other nation on earth.

Happily, you can be sure that your Swiss trains and postal letters will be on time, unlike many of their European counterparts. Among tidy, just so-precision of Swiss towns and villages, you are surrounded by the vast splendor of the picturesque which seem to be never ending.

If you enjoy the scenery or want to take an active vacation, there are several scenic routes which meander through Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland and Lucerne’s Lake regions. There are also hiking, white water rafting, kayaking, paragliding, and biking routes and tours for adrenaline junkies.

February is known for Fasnacht or Carnival in Switzerland. The fascination exists because of the incredible participation and party atmosphere, the vivid colors of the carnival costumes, the stirring tunes of the drummers and the piccolo players, and the weird and wonderful <> Music played by the brass bands. Basel really funks up Fasnacht with its well known elaborate parades beginning at a bleary 4am throughout the week.

Spring is welcomed with incredible flower garden spectacles in most villages and quay side waterfronts. Open markets come into full swing in spring, with a spectacle of freshly grown fruits, flowers and vegetables displayed weekly for sale.

Enjoy the world renowned Montreux Jazz Festival which takes place in July along the picturesque waterfront of Lac Leman. National day, marked on August 1, is celebrated with fireworks throughout the country, and Swiss wrestling in the Emmental area east of Bern.

City life provides a diverse following wonderful outdoor seated pubs in summer, small boutiques and the jewelry shops located in historic buildings throughout Swiss cities. On the fourth monday in November, Bern hosts its famous Onion Market (Zibelmarit), where traders take over the entire town center and many a tear are shed.

Of course you cannot forget the wonderful winter Christmas Fairs in Montreux, Zurich and Basel. The Christmas Market boasts hot wine and warm food, while you browse the unique, original and high quality Christmas gift ideas from over 120 richly-decorated wooden chalet-style stalls.

Whatever your pleasure, you’ll find something to love in Switzerland. Come visit the hidden gem of the landlocked country many have come to adore.

Can you imagine such a rise in population growth that there was no place to bury the dead? Just think about what would happen? Think about what actually did happen. Back in the 1800s London’s population increased by over a million people in just fifty short years. There truly was a lack of burial space. As a result, there were instances of body snatching, bodies left out to rot or not buried deep enough and bodies cleared from graves too soon. As churchyard cemeteries became overcrowded massive sanitary problems ensued. Not a pretty sight, is it?

Because there was no room at the inns, churchyard cemeteries had to prohibit additional burials. There was simply no more space available to bury the deceased. The solution? Starting in the 1820s, the “garden cemetery” movement began. Forward thinking entrepreneurs solved the problem by creating suburban cemeteries, autonomous of the parish church. These new garden cemeteries were spacious with beautifully landscaped acreage.

When these large garden cemeteries were first established, there were no existing outstretched urban parks, therefore these new cemeteries became popular places for talking walks or carriage rides. Then in 1832 Parliament passed a bill encouraging the formation of seven private cemeteries in a ring around outer London. The seven cemeteries, now well known as the “Magnificent Seven”, were built to accommodate the growth of London and also to ease the indignity of overcrowded graveyards in the city.

At that time, a newly emerging middle class was coming into age. The Magnificent Seven appealed this group who were eager to distance themselves from the working class and to present to the public its social status.

You see, burial sites were seen as a public extension to the family’s assets. Cemeteries provided a place for families to establish permanent monuments to themselves. However, many of the Magnificent Seven, previously considered elite, are now just overgrown stone junkyards. It’s no surprise that creating balance between conservation, preservation and restoration is an issue that taxes most of the nation’s cemetery groups.

Nonetheless, there still exist some relatively undisturbed pockets of many cemeteries which have allowed the development of unique natural habitats. Cemeteries are now recognized as havens for gorgeous plants and flowers. Further many cemetery groups operate conservation schemes.

If you’d like to pay a visit to any of the Magnificent Seven, get out your tour guide and visit: Kensal Green, West Norwood, Highgate Cemetery, Nunhead, Brompton, Abney Park, and Tower Hamlets.

Nova Scotia is an ethereal peninsula that juts off of Canada’s eastern coast into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s array of geography from dense, rich forests to windswept, rocky shores and fertile inland orchards make it the perfect vacation spot for those who enjoy scenic travelling.

Nova Scotia’s European settlement was established in 1605 by the French - one of the first settlements in North America but is now home to a vibrant mix of ethnic backgrounds. Only in Nova Scotia can you enjoy such a unique combination of European history as well as a celebration of cultural diversity.

You can visit historical landmarks such as Fort Louisbourg and Halifax Citadel. Step back in time and view the Capital city, Halifax, from the Citadel, a fortress completed in 1856 and in use by British and Canadian Forces until the Second World War. Experience the Victorian age recreations of soldiers training in the courtyard - kilts and all! The Citadel also portrays soldier’s wives and civilians in it’s authentic recreations.

Nova Scotia’s history also plays a role in of one of the largest sea tragedies, the sinking of the Titanic, and is home to the graves of the largest concentration of the victims.

If you enjoy the scenery or want to take an active vacation there are several scenic trails that meander through Nova Scotia’s inlands and coastal areas. There are also hiking, canoe, kayaking and biking routes and tours.

Spring is welcomed with the traditional festivities of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival in May where you can enjoy parades, celebrations and the breathtaking beauty of some of the loveliest apple orchards in full bloom. The fall is equally admired with the landscape becoming a fire of brightly colored trees painting the hills and valleys with orange, yellow and red.

Enjoy the barren, rocky landscape of Peggy’s Cove and visit the most photographed lighthouse in the world. You’ll also be impressed with the awesome power and beauty of the ocean crashing and spraying over the rocks. Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest tides - so watch out when enjoying the many beaches that cover 100’s of kilometers of coast.

If you enjoy city life, than you’ll love the quaint pubs, shops and the art shops of the historic properties in Halifax. There is also high style shopping on Spring Garden Road or you can take a glimpse of works by up and coming artists at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design - a leading visual arts university in North America for more than a century.

Whatever your pleasure - you’ll find something to love in Nova Scotia!